Social Venture Partners Charleston is now Empower Charleston

November 16, 2023

The name is changing but the mission remains the same.

Social Venture Partners Charleston is rebranding to Empower Charleston, effective November 1, 2023. Established in 2010, Empower Charleston is the region’s foremost social collective of philanthropists who pool their resources to make an impact in the community. Empower Charleston has empowered 32 nonprofits to grow their unique impact through $1.4M in funding and hundreds of hours of pro bono consulting.

“Empower Charleston remains focused on the Lowcountry and building towards a bright future of impact across our region,” says Jessica Williford, Empower Charleston Chair. “We are steadfast in our mission to cultivate philanthropists who collectively invest resources to help local nonprofits thrive. The new name emphasizes our renewed focus on helping effective nonprofits address Charleston’s most difficult challenges.”

At the core, Empower Charleston believes that by connecting the nonprofit, philanthropic and venture capital communities directly with social good organizations, investments in knowledge-share, time, and money can drive the most impactful changes across the community we call home.

“Our involvement with Empower Charleston is centered on growing our capacity to help more students. Empower Charleston is the catalyst for our growth over the last year and we look forward to the continued partnership for years to come,” says Emily Kerr, Executive Director of Charleston Hope.

Empower Charleston is currently investing resources with Charleston Hope, Increasing H.O.P.E. Financial Training Center, and We Are Family, chosen as the 2023-2024 investment portfolio, along with many alumni investees. Looking forward, Empower Charleston will begin accepting applications for the 2025-2026 investment cycle in February. Interested nonprofits can learn more about the upcoming grant cycle at https://empowercharleston.org/grant-cycle/.

 

About Empower Charleston

Empower Charleston is a diverse group of successful professionals who combine their time, expertise and resources to make strategic investments in Lowcountry nonprofits. Empower Charleston operates under the aegis of the Coastal Community Foundation, the largest grant-making entity in South Carolina. Learn more at www.empowercharleston.org